In a significant development for Pakistan’s aviation sector, the UK’s Air Safety Committee has lifted restrictions on Pakistani airlines, acknowledging improvements in air safety standards.
According to a statement from the British High Commission, individual airlines will still need to apply for operating permits through the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
“I’m grateful to aviation experts in both the UK and Pakistan for their collaborative efforts to raise safety standards to international levels,” said British High Commissioner Jane Marriott. “While flight operations will take time to resume, I look forward to flying with a Pakistani carrier when visiting family and friends.”
The decision to remove Pakistan and its carriers from the UK Air Safety List follows a thorough and independent aviation safety process, the statement added. The Air Safety Committee had been in close coordination with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority over the past several years, and determined that sufficient progress has been made since the original ban was imposed in 2021.
With over 1.6 million people of Pakistani origin living in the UK and thousands of British citizens residing in Pakistan, the development is expected to ease travel and facilitate family reunions.
The UK is also Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade valued at £4.7 billion. Improved air connectivity is anticipated to further strengthen economic ties between the two countries.
